New Delhi: The World Bank has approved USD 200 million in loans for Himachal Pradesh to facilitate power sector reforms in the state, besides increasing the share of renewable energy generation. The loan will have a final maturity of 14.5 years including a grace period of 4.5 years. In a release on Wednesday (June 28), World Bank said the funding would help the state add 10,000 megawatts (10 gigawatts) of additional renewable energy capacity.
Himachal Pradesh aims to become a ‘Green State’ by meeting 100 per cent of its energy needs through renewable and green energy by 2030.
The state currently meets more than 80 per cent of its energy demands from hydropower.
Auguste Tano Kouame, the World Bank’s Country Director for India said,
The Program will boost local economic activity while replacing fossil-fuel-based energy consumption with green energy. Moreover, the Program will support HP (Himachal Pradesh) to set up a single energy trading desk, thus enabling the sale of surplus hydropower to other states
Moreover, Himachal Pradesh power firms will train around 700 female apprentices throughout the lifespan of the program, giving them hands-on exposure and training in technical roles within the power sector.
Surbhi Goyal and Pyush Dogra, team leaders for the Program said,
The Program will promote good and sustainable practices within the power utilities in the state to transition them to run a green and low carbon electricity system
They added,
This shall contribute towards the state’s goal to be one of the first ‘Green State’ in the country
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toiletsare used and open defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
